Take a deep breath. Smell that? In recent years, aromatherapy has taken off in Western culture. Chances are that you have inhaled an aroma purported to calm, soothe, energize or balance. True to our capitalistic roots, this ancient healing art has become big business. Aromatherapy is now used to market everything from room deodorizers to laundry detergent. What’s behind this sensational trend and why the booming popularity?

Aromatherapy is commonly used in alternative medicine. While many forms of natural medicine can be traced to our neighbors in the East, aromatherapy is a product of the French. The modern term aromatherapy is often traced to French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse. It is said that Gattefosse burned his hand in the lab and thrust it into the nearest liquid which happened to be lavender oil. His hand healed without scars and he began to investigate the healing and psychotherapeutic benefits of essential oils. During World War II, another Frenchman, Dr. Jean Valmet, used essential oils as an antiseptic, and aromatherapy later achieved status as a holistic therapy due to the efforts of Madame Marguerite Maury. We can also thank Madame Maury for the use of essential oils in massage therapy.

There is no denying that scent plays a significant role in our lives. Our sense of smell can help us to detect danger, signal us to eat, and affect our mood. In 2004, the Nobel Prize was awarded to U.S. researchers Linda Buck and Richard Axel for their discovery of 1,000 genes and receptors for the sense of smell. In awarding the coveted prize, the jury noted, “A unique odor can trigger distinct memories from our childhood or from emotional moments—positive or negative—later in life.”

Aromatherapy practitioners use essential oils to treat digestive disorders, aches and pains, and psychological disorders. In many countries, essential oils are regulated and can be prescribed by physicians. Japan, Germany, Russia and the United States do not recognize aromatherapy as a valid branch of medicine. Detractors, while not minimizing the role of smell in the human life, refute the healing powers of oil. Yet, both the scientific and the nonscientific communities agree that aroma does have an impact. For most of us, it does not take scientific evidence to validate the connection between aroma and our brains. The fragrant aroma of certain foods makes us salivate in seconds, the smell of baked goodies can evoke feelings of comfort, and peppermint has the amazing power to refresh and reenergize.

In the West, scent therapy has less to do with healing disease and more with healing mood, thus the popularity of adding scent to household items. Lavender oil has a calming effect and is linked to male sexual response. The sweet, spicy smell of basil improves concentration and lifts depression. Tea tree oils noted for their antimicrobial properties are frequently found in hair and skin care products. Even skeptics accept that mint and eucalyptus relieve stuffy noses caused by colds and flu. The perfume industry has always marketed the mood-invoking power of scent. Scents are marketed as sensual, sexy, calming, refreshing, natural, and romantic. Shopping malls use scent to create a mood. During the holiday season, the lighting and aromas are all designed to put you in a holly, jolly shopping mood. And, of course, there is no denying the difference that scented oils make during a massage.

If you are interested in true aromatherapy, it is best to visit a trained professional, such as a holistic physician. Oils can be very potent and when used inappropriately they can irritate the skin or cause more serious reactions such as liver damage or seizures. If you simply enjoy certain fragrances and the way they make you feel by all means indulge your passion. Even detractors cannot refute that if a particular scent or smell makes you feel better, by all means burn it, spray it, or lather up in it. Whether scientifically validated or not, feeling good is a worthwhile benefit.

Karen D. Swim is the President and CEO of Words For Hire, a Content Creation and Marketing Firm. Karen helps clients develop articles, whitepapers, resumes, bios and other content that increases their visibility and credibility within their target market. She brings a passion and commitment to every project and clients frequently comment on her ability to “get it right.” You can email Karen at mailto:karen@wordsforhirellc.com karen@wordsforhirellc.com.

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Tags: Hair, massage, massage therapy, scars

Have you been eyeing a laser treatment to zap away those acne scars? Before you run over to your local medical spa, you way want to run over some numbers to make sure you can dish out the cash to get the unblemished skin you crave.

The best way to get those laser cost numbers is to look to someone whose already been there, done that. In this case, we’ll turn to the researchers who tested the effectiveness of the 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber (i.e. Fraxel) laser to remove unwanted acne scars in 53 patients.

The patients’ skin tone varied from fair to dark and their degree of acne scarrinng ranged from mild to severe. All the patients received a Fraxel treatment once a month for three months. Examiners accessed improvements in the skin after each treatment and six months after the final Fraxel treatment.

The clinicians rated improvements in the acne scarring between 51% to 75% in nearly 90% of patients after three monthly laser treatments. Side effects of the treatment included temporary swelling and redness in most patients. However, the patients did not experience typical side effects like skin discolorations, wounds and scarring.

So, how much does that add up to for a laser treatment to get rid of acne scarring. Well, there are a few more variables we need to add to the minimum three consecutive treatments. The size of the treated area will also influence the treatment cost.

The larger the area, the more time needed to treat the area and so, the price goes up. For minor acne scars, you can expect to pay between $600-$1500 for Fraxel treatments, while more extensive scarring covering the entire face could require between $2500-$6000.

Additionally, your geographic location and your physician’s credentials will also dictate the overall cost for the laser treatments.

Important pre-laser treatment tip:
There are several laser manufacturers that sell devices to medical spas. In this study published in Dermatologic Surgery, researchers used the Fraxel laser manufactured by Reliant Technologies Incorporated. For the best results from your laser treatment, while visiting your doctor, ask about which laser she wishes to use to treat your scarring and ask to see the studies about the effectiveness of that particular laser with removing acne scars.

And finally, ask how many laser treatments you will need in order to get the results you want. This way you’ll know for sure how much your treatments will cost before you delve out a dime.

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded Noixia, a San Diego based research firm dedicated to helping people intelligently, safely and affordably enhance their image by offering custom skin solutions to people with

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Tags: acne, scars

Have you noticed a sudden increase of warts on your body? Wondering how to get rid of them? Well here are some tips that you could use and that too in the comfort of your own home. Try these and watch those unsightly warts vanish into thin air!

Common warts are usually found on the hands, fingers and face. The remedies that follow are to be tried only on this type of common warts and not on others like genital warts. It is best to consult a doctor if you are doubtful about the type of wart you have.

One of the simplest and cheapest remedies that you can try is Castor Oil. This works best for smaller and flatter warts. You can apply castor oil on the warts with a cotton swab couple of times a day. Continue the process until the warts disappear.

Another readily available ingredient in most homes is Vinegar. Apply any type of vinegar to the warts, 2 to 3 times a day. You may notice some swelling around the warts initially, but this should go off in a few days. Keep at this process until you achieve the desired results.

Rubbing raw potato juice on your warts for about two weeks should also do the trick. Warts are known to fall off if fresh Aloe Vera leaves are applied to them after a bath at night for two weeks or more. Covering a wart completely with adhesive tape for a few days is also an effective treatment, which does not leave scars when the warts fall off.

For cauliflower-like textured warts, applying iodine consistently has been known to work. Pricking a Vitamin E capsule and spreading its oil on the warts will help in getting rid of them. And finally, you can try applying clear nail polish on them for a week.

One thing you need to keep in mind is not to try any new remedy if you have an important event coming up to attend as different people might react differently to each of these remedies. Also what remedy works for one, may not work for another person. So keep trying different combinations until you find one that works for you. Good- luck!

To find out how you can safely remove your moles and warts naturally and receive a FREE, 5-part email report “The Five Big Myths Of Removing Moles, Warts, and Skin Tags” visit highly-rated.org highly-rated.org and click on “Home Remedy for Warts”.

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Tags: genital wart, scars

You can do it — look better, feel better, and raise your self-esteem 150% by getting rid of your pimples and acne for good. Living with acne can be very difficult, and even more difficult to find the right acne treatment for you.

As a registered nurse, I’ve learned a lot over the years about pimples. acne, acne scars, and now cutting-edge acne treatments.

Acne will affect almost every person at some stage of their life. Acne is one of most common skin conditions in the world, affecting more than 40 million people. Acne vulgaris is most commonly experienced around puberty, typically of the face, shoulders and chest.

Baby acne is a rash seen on the cheeks, chin, and forehead of infants. Acne is most common in teenagers and young adults.

The cause of acne is really unknown. Doctors think certain factors might cause or contribute to acne including hormone increases in teenage years, hormone changes in pregnancy, starting or stopping birth control pills, heredity, medicines and greasy make-up.

I think the cause of acne is related to our Standard American Diet (SAD) and that would also influence all our hormones. The liver sluffs off toxins from bad foods, drinks, drugs and chemicals and sends them through your skin resulting in skin eruptions, acne, pimples and other skin disorders.

Do you know about coconut oil? It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times a day and at bedtime to see its benefits. Besides acne, if you also have eczema or dry skin, coconut oil will treat those skin conditions too.

One helpful remedy seems to be to use ice to reduce the swelling caused by inflamed pimples: rub it over the blemishes for 2-3 minutes.

Drinking pure, filtered water may be the best acne treatment working from the inside out. Skin care acne treatment is one of the most misunderstood topics there is when it comes to acne skin care.

Coconut oil is very inexpensive, therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Some natural home remedies include dabbing on non-gel toothpaste to dry out zits or lemon juice.

Consider the new research - using red light and blue light TOGETHER to treat acne. A skin specialist in New York is using it successfully now. Before this, skin doctors have used them individually with only limited results.

There are several types of acne scars: ice-pick scars, depressed fibrotic scars, superficial and deep soft scars, and atrophic macules. Acne scars are an ongoing reminder of a common skin condition that can cause embarrassment and social isolation.

In any case, no matter what skin or acne treatment you choose, whether it is chemical, drugs, alternative, or natural methods, changing your diet will result in your overall good health! People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation.

When you change your diet, your lesions should be getting better within 30 days. Whether you eat a natural diet with living fruits and vegetables or eat dead junk food, what you eat may have a direct or indirect affect on the male hormones which may play a part in acne.

Put two tablespoons of coconut oil in your smoothies. Drink plenty of water, a minimum of a quart a day. Eat high-fiber snacks like raw nuts, raw seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, and figs.

Many skin conditions can be converted into healthy skin using natural home remedies. The skin is subject to constant attack from without, so can be affected by numerous conditions, diseases and ailments.

And you should be able to get rid of your acne, zits and pimples and their symptoms, providing you’ve removed the cause, so it doesn’t reoccur.

You should see the results of your acne home treatment remedies with improved skin within just a few days. When it comes to pimples and acne - acne prevention is always a better choice than searching for a cure.

For more information on Best-Skin-Solutions.com natural treatments for acne and acne light therapy, go to Best-Skin-Solutions.com Best-Skin-Solutions.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in acne, pimples and skin disorders with tips, advice and resources for adults, teens, and babies, including information on Best-Skin-Solutions.com acne scar treatments

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Tags: acne, cialis, diet, scars